From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (JULY 24 2008) Organization: Chaffing Heart Club (TM) The following publication contains material that might be objectionable to some readers. Parental guidance and reader discretion are advised. [FLUFF OF THE WEEK] Courtesy of Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily, Apple Daily, Oriental Daily, and Ta Kung Pao 1. THIS TOP 10 IS DEDICATED TO A. Paco Wong who celebrates his birthday on the 29th B. Bobby Auyeung Chun Wa who celebrates his birthday on the 28th C. Sheung Tin Ngor who celebrates her birthday on the 24th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (7/30/2008) The 65th Annual Venice Film Festival announced its line up. Sundream Pictures' PLASTIC CITY (DONG KAU) qualified for the Gold Lion competition. Sundream Pictures chief Tsui Siu Ming was very happy to hear the news. Tsui Siu Ming pointed out, he has always appreciated Jia Zhangke and Yu Lik Wai's work. Although Yu Lik Wai has only directed LOVE WILL TEAR US APART (TIN SEUNG YUN GAN) he has qualified for the Cannes Film Festival. His latest PLASTIC CITY would have even more anticipation. Jia Zhangkei's work has garnered numerous overseas awards, he as PLASTIC CITY's producer is almost confidence guarantee. He would attend the event with PLASTIC CITY's director and cast. Director Yu Lik Wai was just as happy as PLASTIC CITY's selection. "This is an international film festival. I am very happy about the chance for more people to get to know this film, which absolutely helps film promotions." He was very cautious about award hopes. "The film's qualification is already a recognition for the production team." Mob boss in the film Anthony Wong Chau Sun was at ease about the film's selection. He said, "Actually this won't be my first time at the Venice Film Festival, but I still will try to take time to attend. Working with Yu Lik Wai has been very pleasant. Of course I am happy for him about this selection." No stranger to film festivals, Chau Sun was asked about the secret of film festival selection. He said that he did not have any secret. He played every character from his heart and would not be too deliberate. * (7/29/2008) Over ten Mainland and Hong Kong directors united for the Sichuan disaster relief short film 1/2008, which has already been completed and scheduled for a premiere at Shanghai Xintiandi's UME international movie city. Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Stanley Kwan Kam Peng, Xu Jiao, Wang Xiaoshuai, Zhang Yibai, Bowie Lam Bo Yi would attend. Liu Xiang on the eve of the Olympics helplessly could not attend. The Kwan Kam Peng directed short film described at the moment of the earthquake a group of medical personnel was still busy with surgery. Sing SIng played a husband who was quietly waiting for his wife to give birth. Aside from expressing his emotions as he waited for his wife at the hospital, the film also extended to the fate of a life starts at the hospital while another is loss at earthquake. Lam Bo Yi played a doctor, Xu Jiao returned to form and played Sing Sing's sister in law and fully expressed her little girl side. Sing Sing expressed, "Xu Jiao is very smart, she can very quickly grasp a little girl's concern for an adult." Kwan Kam Peng thanked Sing Sing and each other's volunteer performance and gave high praise to Sing Sing's performance. He expressed, "Sing Sing in the short four minute short film full expresses the deep, inner emotions, from panic to concern to pleasant surprise, then to tears of joy. He is able to thoroughly display everything in one shot!" Costume designer and editor William Chang Suk Ping also praised Sing Sing's performance of the husband as very direct and at ease. The title meant that everyone should always hold out hope for tomorrow in life, a positive message that Kwan Kam Peng would like to bring on. Sing Sing has been busy with his World Tour's Macau stop rehearsal, thus he has not seen the short film yet. He would like to watch it with the audience on the 30th. In addition, he also would like to see the Chen Kaige directed, Liu Xiang starred short film. The 11 short films will be available on a VCD with all of the proceedings going to Sichuan disaster relief. * (7/29/2008) Dior Cheng Yi Kin at the Puchon International Film Festival won Best Actor with RULE NUMBER ONE (DAI YUT GAI). Ekin was happy and excited as he did not expect it at all. This time was his first step. He used to think that people say growing his hair long would be good luck. This time he gained weight for the film and it was good luck. As for how he would celebrate, he paraphrased Chow Yun Fat and said that fame and fortune are like floating clouds, so he cannot be too satisfied with himself. He said that this film later will be released in Hong Kong. He will invite his friends and perhaps then will dine to celebrate. * (7/28/2008) Harlem Yu Ching Hing earlier at Director Jingle Ma Chor Sing's invitation guest starred in BUTTERFLY LOVERS (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) as a grass root master. This was also Harlem's big screen debut and the costume film added to his excitement. In the film he played Wu Chen's elder who specializes in medicine. Thus he would often make medicine and test it on his colleagues, leading to plenty of comedy. In one scene Harlem has to teach Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin high heat medicine making. At first the director arranged to make fire with coal, but Harlem thought the fire was not strong enough and added accelerant. As he was focused on teaching Ah Sa, the fire suddenly burnt his back. Ah Sa immediately stopped the shot and the crew rushed in to put out the fire. Later Harlem joked, "I indeed have passion like fire." Although Harlem likes to make fun, at work he is very serious. However his not so fluent Cantonese often made the crew laugh. Only Big Brother Ti Lung did not make fun of him and even taught him the correct pronunciation. When Harlem was not on the set, he would practice with Big Brother Ti Lung. This time he even requested to personally provide his voice but asked the director to be his voice director. He hoped through this chance to be able to improve his Cantonese. * (7/28/2008) Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) yesterday attended a shopping center event. Siu Chai lately has been working on the Johnnie TO Kei Fung directed new film UM SAT (ASSASSINATION). He said that the film has already been in production for a year but it still has not wrapped. Earlier he has changed costume three times. Siu Chai joked that he has complained to the director about the duration of the shoot and that he did not know how many of his films he would be able to make in his lifetime. However, Siu Chai also would like to be able to make a good award winning film. * (7/27/2008) Prudence Lau Mei Kwun, 2R's Race, Sherming Yiu Lok Yi and Monie Tung Man Lei attended the Herman Yau Lai To directed NGOR BUT MAI SUN NGOR MAI JI GUNG (I DON'T SELL BODY I SELL UTERUS) wrap banquet. One of the actors Anthony Wong Chau Sun was absent due to voice work. Race has just returned from working on the film SHANGHAI in Thailand. The film also starred Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li. Fat Gor earlier even claimed that 2R in the film would be his mistresses. Race pointed out that actually she would not have too many intimate or kiss scene with Fat Gor. So far she still has not had the chance to work with either of her idols. Yet she has seen Gong Li on the set and felt very envious of her great skin and figure. Lau Mei Kwun in the film played a prostitute and did not wear any make up for her performance. She said that after the performance her self confidence has greatly increased and dared to appear with her real face. She honestly said that after making this film her acting bug has been acting up, perhaps because Wong Chau Sun said to her, "How can this bad girl go on without acting for so long!" Chaun Sun also pointed out that he has had a story that could not find a suitable female lead. Now he realized that it was very right for her and has prepared to start production. She believed that Chau Sun would direct personally but she would first spend the summer vacation with her children in the U.S. * (7/27/2008) Shawn Yue Man Lok and Dior Cheng Yi Kin with Singapore director Kelvin Tong Wing Kin's film RULE NUMBER ONE (DAI YUT GAI) shared the Korean Puchon International Film Festival Best Actor awards, their first. Ah Lok only regretted that he could not personally accept the award. He expressed that two nights ago he has already received the director's text message but at the time the director did not tell him that he won with Ekin. Yesterday when he read the paper Ah Lok shuttered and thought that it was a mistake. He joked, "My family and friends all called me and I thought it was a mistake. Later I learned that I won with Ekin and realized that I was panicking over nothing. I am very happy, my work has never competed in international film festivals. This time it not only qualified but also won. Actually I should personally accept the award but the director didn't notify me and I didn't know. Now I regret it a little." "The award represents others' recognition. I would continue to work hard and do my best. I wouldn't feel this award would make anything different, but the management company should be the happiest. When I made movies before, others called me the box office poison. Now I could take credit for the company. Who would make movies and did not want better box office word of mouth? Sometimes the market couldn't adjust." Ah Lok expressed that he has had quite a connection with Korea but he has not visited the country yet. He said, "MOSS (CHING TOI) will participate in another film festival in Korea soon. I will also participate in the Pusan Film Festival events. I have never been to Korea and would try to take time to attend as if I would be visiting." * (7/25/2008) Universe film boss Daneil Lam Siu Ming and wife Chiu Shuet Ying were rumored to have parted ways due to Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam. Lam Siu Ming even planned to sell Universe. Yesterday Chiu Shuet Ying appeared in support of Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin's new book and admitted that she and Lam Siu Ming have already begun their divorce proceeding. She also admitted that she has not contacted Lam Siu Ming in a long time and they are only working partners. As for Universe's sale, she said, "Earlier buyers were in negotiation but finally the deal fell through. I too wanted to sell it as soon as possible so I can officially leave this relationship behind." * (7/24/2008) Nicholas Tse Ting Fung two nights ago worked on the film JING YUN (WITNESS) on the streets of Mongkok and personally climbed onto a seven floor high sign. Before the shoot he warmed up and got an understanding of the situation from the crew. Ting Fung also prayed for a smooth shoot in a ceremony. To avoid accidents the crew drove away onlookers. When Ting Fung reached second floor he suffered a scratch but continued on. This scene finally took two takes to complete. Ting Fung also pointed out that before this scene, Zhang Jingchu has already slapped him on the street. The slap was so loud that it could be heard across the street. Luckily it only needed one take. Ting Fung said that due to 22 hours at work the crew asked him to rest at home before this scene. He estimated when the shoot wrapped two nights ago he has already worked 40 hours in a row; but he has already taken the full safety precaution and thus was not worried about the safety issue. Nick Cheung Ka Fai in the film had a scarred look. When he got home his daughter at first was afraid but now she was used to it. * (7/24/2008) The film ONE MAN'S OLYMPICS two nights ago held its premiere, the proceeds of which would be donated to the University of Southern California and Sichuan for charity purposes. Director Hou Yong led the stars in attendance. This film was a salute to the Beijing Olympics. Li Zhaolin in the film played the first Chinese athlete to participate in the Olympics Liu Changchun. In real life he is a second grade national athlete and once studied at the Central Academy of Drama. Li Zhaolin said that playing this heroic athlete in history was certainly difficult. Mainly very little information about Liu Changchun was available so he did not understand his personality and could not conduct any research. Also very little photos and information were available about his participation of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. The museum only had a little information. He could only reprise the character according to the director and the screen writer's requests in addition to his personal imagination. He felt that Liu Changchun's relationships with his son and lover were the most difficult to play. Li Zhaolin said, when he was an athlete he was a 100 meter runner. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 29 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS ADAPTED COMIC BOOK MOVIES ARE THE MOST PROFITABLE BATMAN is a comic book, SPIDER-MAN is a comic book too. Hollywood special effect film kings are mostly comic book based films. In addition the sequels keep coming, one more profitable than the previous. These comic books are not recent work, but remake of old work from several decades ago. They long have had old version film and television series. As long as properly managed, creative copyright can endure and start anew. Comic book is not a flash in the pan. Another comic book kingdom Japan is the same way. Comic books go to the big screen anew. Its international market performance although was far behind Hollywood films, but locally it has had decent box office. Remaking old comic books, to film professionals, is making their childhood dreams come true. They grew up on these comic books, they have more than abundant fantasy for the heroes inside. Many viewers of this generation are like them, old comic book heroes are packaged anew and become trendy again. A new generation of viewers are added, extending the life of the comic book. Hong Kong comic books once were popular, but due to limited subjects they have always been looked down upon and they have not advanced with the society. Local comic book in order to gain the biggest profit went to an assembly line too soon, unlike U.S. and Japanese comic books that have always stressed writers' personal styles and put creativity on an even higher position. Hong Kong comic books do not focus on creativity. Famous lead artists often excessively express their artistic abilities. They love to draw fight scenes more than describing characters and telling stories. Aside from several popular books that have been adapted to film and television, the rest has no cross media ability. Anyone who is familiar with local comic books understand that most work is lifted. They draw whatever is popular at the time. Foreign animation and hot video game characters are often mixed in. After the book fair is the comic book and animation convention. Video games in recent years have merged into the convention and occupied a very important position. Computer game creation resembles comic book a lot, but the investment is much higher than comic book. It is not the best creative body of origin. Comic book creative development will be very helpful to future creative industries like film, television and game. - KWOK HIN CHING 2. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 28 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS A MONTH OF EXCEEDING 120 MILLION BOX OFFICE At the end of June the summer vacation started, although this month did not seem to have as many strong films as last year but the box office actually was decent. On the cumulative box office chart, the top five had a total box office that exceeded 120 million within a month. Already out for 4 weeks, KUNG FU PANDA had 30 million. Although it was the box office champion at this writing, but THE DARK KNIGHT had momentum on its side. Its first week already accumulated 24.13 million. Not only was it the king of the same period but also the best summer performer so far. We will see whether the July 31 release THE MUMMY TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR would have stronger box office. To have an even higher opening, it must have even more cinemas. If the first day ever cinemas would be sold out, then the battle would be of cinema and screen numbers. THE DARK KNIGHT in the U.S. broke last year's SPIDER-MAN 3 opening record due to its advanced midnight screenings. They kept screening until the next morning for 24 hours. Although the film was over 2 hours long, it still won with screening numbers. The strategy was very successful. HANCOCK made 23 million without too much noise, which was unexpected. WANTED might have excited young people but still had to succumb to HANCOCK with 22 million. Its cinema number loss was too much on its second week and its box office thus lost momentum. RED CLIFF after 2 weeks made over 20 million. Its third week has lost a little momentum and might not be able to exceed THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG)'s 27 million. In comparison, because both were super productions of Chinese film history, individually THE WARLORDS might be even more expensive than RED CLIFF. RED CLIFF first and second installments together of course would surpass THE WARLORDS. Many viewers strangely went to see RED CLIFF and did not realize that a second installment was on the way until the end. RED CLIFF's two installment release has already been widely reported. Yet many viewers still have not caught the message or perhaps have overlooked it. Is it proof that some serious entertainment coverage has difficulty being spread or remembered? - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 27 2008 ABOUT WOO My RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) review has a hard time shaking off certain very personal elements with John Woo (Ng Yu Sum), not only because we have known each other for a long time but also because I have always harbored well wishes for him. I know (he too has expressed to the outside numerous times) that RED CLIFF was a movie that he has hoped to make for years. On a very large degree, although this was his return from 15 years in Hollywood (HARD TARGET was made in 1993) actually after two failures in Hollywood (2002 WINDTALKERS and PAYCHECK next year) his position was not what it once was so he gambled on a return to form on his own turf. On this layer, I indeed truly hoped RED CLIFF would achieve the greatest critical and box office (the latter perhaps would become even more important) success. (So far, the film's Asian box office seemed to have performed decently. Mainland reviews have raged the most as they polarized to both extremes. In comparison to war, this would be considered a narrow victory.) My well wishes for Woo not only came from most of his work (from his earliest HAND OF DEATH (SIU LUM MOON) and the always strong personal style (from the earliest "cruel comedy" to the later so-called "violence art") but also perhaps from admiration and appreciation of his persistent personality. Woo was an artistic youth who went from tightening his belt and had nothing but bread in order to make experimental films (the genre back then, today's independent short film) to joining Shaw Brothers and becoming Chang Chen's assistant director (originally he wanted to become an actor), then signing with Golden Harvest and made (perhaps even he himself never would have imagined) Cantonese opera PRINCESS CHANG PING (DAI NUI FA) and (he was never completely willing to make) madcap comedy to make a name for himself. After a variety of hardship he shook off Golden Harvest's shackles and joined Cinema City, thinking that he would be able to find collaboration partners of the same mind but very quickly was seen as outdated and exiled to Taiwan for years. Finally with A BETTER TOMORROW (YING HUNG BOON SIK)'s Mark Gor self parallel returned as the hero. The rise and fall in between I have occasionally heard about, which not only was exasperating but also provided a very deep experience of Woo's ability to adapt. Woo was the first Hong Kong director who charged into Hong Kong (previously Wayne Wang was the only one. Although Wang was from Hong Kong he has already lived in the U.S. for awhile before making U.S. films. At least culturally he would not have any adjustment issue and thus did not meet the definition of "charge"). Before going to the U.S. his BULLET IN THE HEAD (DIP HUET GAI TAU, 1990) although was not as successful as expected, ONCE A THIEF (JUNG WAN SEI HOI, 1991) and HARDBOILED (LAT SAU SUN TAM, 1992) remained box office hits. Thus one could say that the Hollywood development was a risk that he took. My view was the Hong Kong film pace could neither keep up with Woo's creativity nor provide enough assistance (and resource) for Woo to thoroughly demonstrate his abilities, so Woo headed West. Do not forget that Woo alone (Terence Chang Ka Chun was his only partner who was responsible for translation and handling everything). Doesn't this in itself already have a little the wuxia romantic flavor of riding alone for thousands of miles? (1 of 2) John Woo's first Hollywood film was the Jean-Claude Van Damme starred HARD TARGET. This team could not reflect any clearer that Hollywood "targeted" Woo as a director who "only" specializes in action (class B) movies that targets minorities in the U.S. and these minorities' third world place of origin and the developing markets. More objectively it was a chance for Woo to show his skills; more honestly it was a little cheap. (After that Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam Lan Tung also without except had to go through this test.) I remembered when Woo chose to make HARD (actually perhaps he had no choice) the various superficial regrets that actually were sarcastic comments and responses. My opinion of the film was this still was an undiscounted John Woo film and also an elevated wuxia film. The notoriously dumb Van Damme was unable to transform but at least for the first time looked more stylish and cooler. John Woo's Hollywood story from here on has all become history. One subject of controversy: with the successes of BROKEN ARROW, FACE/OFF, and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2, has Woo compromised in Hollywood and lost his own style even though these films still had many Woo's subjects and signatures (slow motion violence, male mutual admiration, heroic duo mexican stand off, white doves)? Perhaps the question should be answered from the opposite end. First instead of asking has Hollywood changed Woo but how has Woo changed Hollywood (outside Hollywood)? From a glance, the question seemed not to be proportional; but actually since Woo's movies dual gun wielding male leads leaping into the screen in slow motion, two or more Mexican stand offs, and similar slow motion violent action scenes have appeared in Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Luc Besson, Doug Liman and even more second or third rate films or television products and even become cliches. All these are actually Woo's influence on Hollywood and even world films, which no matter what is quite an achievement. When we do not have the ability to provide an excellent environment for film workers to be able to be thoroughly demonstrate their excellent talent, after their persistence and hard work uniquely achieve, have we truly recognize or honor them? (2 of 2) - SHU KEI 4. TA KUNG PAO, JULY 27 2008 SUMMER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OPENS In the scorching summer, hiding in the cinema seems to be a decent way to beat the heat. This summer, aside from box office blockbusters, film viewers still have many other choices. The soon to open Summer International Film Festival would have everything from popular Japanese star Ayase Haruka to famous director Ingmar Bergman's classics. Actually, this is only small scale film festival that is 1/10 the size of the Hong Kong International Film Festival. How can its function be as simple as entertainment and spending the summer? It also has an even more important mission, to hold on to old viewers and attract new ones. The Hong Kong International Film Festival association art director Lee Cheuk To expresses, in comparison to the March Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Summer International Film Festival would have more pop items and less alternative and extreme work. "This is done to hold on to film festival viewers, to remind them that a small scale film festival can 'hold them over' so they can look forward to the HKIFF half a year later even more; on the other hand we need to attract some new film festival clients in hopes that they feel this time the movies are suitable to their taste and return next March again. As time becomes more advanced, film viewing has more and more channels. Viewers don't have to go to the cinema. We have to take the initiative and take this chance to hold on to existing viewers and explore new viewers to avoid gradual viewer loss." Harmony Between New And Old The HKIFF Association organized Summer International Film Festival will take place between August 8 and September 15. Over 39 days the film festival will consist on Summer Pops and Summer Classics. The former will include the latest Japanese and Korean films, popular idol work, Hong Kong film, Cannes and Berlin Film Festival award winners; Summer Classic will continue the March film festival's Ingmar Bergman classic series and add 8 of Japanese master Kon Ichikawa's golden age representative world. It will be a experienced film fan's "required course". "HKIFF has a I See It My Way segment, the goal of which is to hopefully attract even more young people to watch movies. The SIFF's Summer Pops has expanded this portion so it would select more popular films. Film selection would also consider fun factor, entertainment value and youth preference; more forward, experimental or uninhibited work would in turn be reduced." Lee Cheuk To says. In addition, because the screening locations will include some mainstream cinemas, due to facility limitations the often seen film festival video work is also missing from Summer IFF. Picking Up Left Over However, popular idol names are not lacking at all. They will include CYBORG SHE's Haruka Ayase and Naoto Takenaka, TEA FIGHT's Erkia Toda and Vic Chou Yu Man, 700 DAYS OF BATTLE: US VS. THE POLICE's Hayato Ichihara, and even LOST, INDULGENCE's Eason Chan Yik Shun; many films with good actors as well, like the Nicholas Tse Ting Fung starred Pang Brothers film BANGKOK DANGEROUS and the Simon Yam Tat Wa starred Lawrence Lau Wing Cheung starred BALLISTIC, all are the lights of this year. Of course there still is this year's only "pure breed" Hong Kong film, ten directors' stories of ten year since the reunification A DECADE OF LOVE. In addition, Summer Pops also has the renowned Bollywood Fever and its four Indian musicals. Lee Cheuk To says, when OM SHANTI OM was screened at the March film festival, the audience response was overwhelming and the online word of mouth was great as well. At that time many asked for more. Thus they became to collect several other Bollywood films and release with more material. "The high grossing was still OM SHANTI OM, which was already sold out on the first day. We will consider whether to add seats or screenings the demand requires." Aside from providing good films a chance to "return with success", Summer IFF also has a "pick up left over" function. For example ELITE SQUAD and HAPPY GO LUCKY are all "fresh out of the oven" Berlin Film Festival award winners. "Berlin Film Festival's films usually wouldn't make our March film festival because when Berlin Film Festival takes place in February, our programs have already been printed. Now they are just right for the Summer IFF. In addition, LOST, INDULGENCE originally was scheduled for the March film festival screening, the film suddenly required another inspection. We could only refund the tickets. Now it has passed inspection we of course would release it as soon as we could." Speaking of the famous writer Wang Shuo's novel based, Liu Fendou directed, Simon Yam tat Wa produced opening film OCEAN FLAME, he says, the film at the 06 Hong Kong Asian Film Financing Forum received an award and successfully gathered financing. This May it even participated in the 61st Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard segment. The director's first time GREEN HAT also received good reviews at its release. Viewers who has seen it would look forward to his latest film even more. Personal Preference As for his personal preference, they are focused on the Summer Classics segments. "In it several films I still haven't seen. I have wanted to watch them for a long time. THE CROWDED STREETCAR I heard is very funny. Although I have seen AN ACTOR'S REVENGE, the feeling on the big screen is different and would be much more exciting. Others include ALONE ACROSS THE PACIFIC; in addition I still want to watch some films again, like THE BURMESE HARP and FIRES ON THE PLAIN." He has selected the films of the Japanese master Kon Ichikawa, who passed away earlier this year. He points out, the older generation of film fans know that Kon Ichikawa's name was on the same level as Akira Kurosawa. This selection includes his 50s or 60s classics. Some like THE BURMESE HARP has not been shown in Hong Kong for a long time. Thus Kon Ichikawa absolutely he is "all out recommendation". When we started to promote Summer IFF earlier, we emailed viewers who have purchased tickets at the March Film Festival to remind them to support us. When we released Ingmar Bergman's work again as a second retrospective after the March film festival, we attracted many 'fans' back and the box office response was great." This year's Summer IFF has selected 33 films and over 64 screenings, close to last year's scale. Although summer has many events, film fan passion has not been lessen. When tickets became available on the 18th, over 1/3 have already been sold on the first four days. Lee Cheuk To expresses, unless viewers demand increase, they do not have any special ambition to continue to expand Summer IFF's scale. "We cannot possibly organize an event that is as large scale as March's film festival. The goal of the Summer IFF is not a second film festival in a year. It only needs to create a film viewing atmosphere to spend the summer so viewers don't have to wait a year to watch new films. However, even though Summer IFF's scale is only 1/10 of the March film festival, it has even longer screening period because on many days only one screening has been scheduled. Some Mondays deliberately have no scheduled screening because we realize that out of the seven days of the week viewers seem have to have least time or mood to watch movies on Monday." - SIU () 5. TA KUNG PAO, JULY 27 2008 JOHN WOO'S THREE KINGDOMS DREAM RED CLIFF (CHET BIK)'s Mainland box office has already broken 200 million and over 20 million in Hong Kong. Unfortunately its word of mouth varied. Earlier some said that the drama was much better than the action, and some said the opposite; the only agreement was that aside from the white dove, John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s director style was not demonstrated. Anyone who went to see RED CLIFF from the ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS or RECORDS OF THREE KINGDOMS versions would definitely be disappointed because the film medium had a lot of restrictions and less space for imagination. The adaptation determines whether an adapted film is good. The subject of RED CLIFF is too large with too many characters. Any difference from the original is inevitable. Individually characters do not stand out and cannot demonstrate the director's strong suit of describing character relationships. RED CLIFF's character appearance and battle scenes are all under production condition restrictions. For example Guan Yu did not appear on his Red Hare horse and appeared on foot like Zhang Fei (who was even blurrier). Guan Yu's halberd was only used as a javelin and a sweeping move. The obvious reason was horseback battle was hard to shoot, halberd was hard to yield. Otherwise the film would require even more people and material. Zhao Zilong who hid A Dou among a million soldiers did not have too many horseback heroics. Each famed warrior displayed their heroics "one on one" and drastically reduced the group heroics. Sometimes any flaw with the major scenes would make the smaller scenes even worse. RED CLIFF's Eight Diagram Formation was an example. Not only its layer was unclear, but it also showed that the Cao army and the screenwriter both lacked intelligence (automatically entering and being trapped in the Eight Diagram Formation before striking back). THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG) had a simple formation (or battle strategy would be more suitable). Archers and foot soldiers advanced in order, which was very orderly, simple and easy to understand. The result was even better. The biggest flaw for the people was the character design, which was this film's specialty. The film seemingly had no one that was the same with our familiar Three Kingdoms stories. The most faithful to the original character was Zhao Zilong, but the actor Hu Jun was more than brave but less than handsome. Reportedly the director rejected foreign producers' request to turn Liu, Guan and Zhang into one person. Yet in this film none of the trio was outstanding. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were only major extras. As for Liu Bei, the director might have used India's Ghandi as the blueprint and stress that he did not forget to labor. He made straw shoes like Ghandi weaved cloth. The leads Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang were Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) played. Leung's "stiffness" and Gum's "nonsense" played off each other and indeed led to a lot of "comedy" effects. The best looking character was Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi). Although it was not the traditional costume he truly had both courage and wit, full of energy and high emotional quotient. The director has successfully created the effect of Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang at a disadvantage. The hardest to understand was the brightest Sun Quan becoming a problem youth without any courage or intelligence. The director in order to support Zhuge Liang's wit sacrificed Sun Quan, which truly made the director's claim of making THREE KINGDOMS his wish difficult to understand. - TIN LIK 6. TA KUNG PAO, JULY 27 2008 ABOUT RED CLIFF ACTORS John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) has only released its first installment but it has already led to a huge response, and the reaction was very polarizing. The THREE KINGDOMS story to Chinese people is truly too familiar, the territory that it covers ranges from literature to opera, film, television, comic book and computer games. Today's youth even though has not studied this period of history at least would know about the Liu, Guan and Zhang's worn brotherhood in the peach blossom garden, and characters like Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang. Because of that, this adaptation has become even more difficult. The slightest difference in the subject would lead to inevitable general controversy. The first installment of RED CLIFF strictly speaking is only narrating the historical background and character relationships. The truly important battles like Borrowing the East Wind, Burning the Armada, and Hua Rong Path still have not appeared. However Ng Yu Sum's overall handling was rather decent. The pace was intense. Several battles like the Eight Diagram Formation were very special. Some key figures in this historical era, especially Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu and Cao Cao all made an appearance, marked their respective positions and stirred up the dramatic influence. Everyone's focus concentrated on Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu not only because of their rivalry in this historical period. They mutually admired each other but served different masters. They had to work together against Cao Cao but also had to calculate and defense against each other. The earlier cast change has led to a series of news and added to the attraction. In terms of effect, Leung Chiu Wai and Gum Sing Mo's acting held their own. Aside from the need to accommodate their costumes, they were able to have certain spark. Yet if the characters' performance was compared to historical records and everyone's impression, we would feel that Zhuge Liang in the film was not able to demonstrate his education and intelligence. Zhou Yu was not able to express the love hate relationship with Zhuge Liang. Their battle of words was only brushed over. Their first encounter was not fully expressed, which was quite regrettable. As for Cao Cao the conqueror of the generation, Zhang Fengyi's performance actually was quite an effort. His every word and move showed command but his ambition to rule the world did not stand out enough. Instead because too much ink was spent on his obsession with Xiaoqiao that people would misunderstand that he started the war with East Wu over this woman. - CHUI HIU 7. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 26 2008 THE CLOSEST DISTANCE BETWEEN CAMERA AND ARTIST Often artists and entertainment reporters would come into conflict. Li Apeng while protecting his daughter had physical contact with the photographer who was chasing his daughter, even though he knew that other reporters would capture the process. Anyone who worked in show business understood that reporters chase only for the job and would try to accommodate as much as possible. When artists act up, if they are only caught with personal lack of discipline they are at flaw and public support would be difficult. Artists get mad the easiest not over the aforementioned situation but mostly when their families are involved. Artists feel that their show business job is their own personal matter and their families should not be disturbed. Anyone with a family certainly understands. Who would not want to protect their families? Who would want their families to be constantly disturbed? If their underage children were disturbed, an ordinary person's response might be much worse than an artist's. Media with news ethics would not randomly publicize artists' underage children, but to certain media this line does not exist. Media publicizing is one thing, artists at most would strongly respond. Yet if the process was near abuse or injured children, if you were the artist what would you do? The fact would be like this. As long as you have the chance to see such a scene you would understand. Some reporters have already exceeded photography. If they only want a photo that can clearly show the face they can shoot from afar. Now cameras are very advanced and shooting a good picture is not hard at all. Why would they rush to the close distance and put their cameras in a position of having a chance to hit someone in the face? How close do cameras and the subjects have to be to be considered beyond tolerable? You can take a camera and try it yourself. When it hits you in the fact would he gladly tolerate it? Many industry insiders believe, some reporters mainly want artists to get mad and rough, only then can they cook up effective reports. - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Juet Doi Seung Giu d. Yip Lim Sum Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Kary Ng Yu Fei, Sammy, Hotcha Can : Oi Dut Hei d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Chen Bo-Lin (Chan Pak Lam), Shaun Tam Chun Yin, Terry Fan Siu Wong, HotCha Can : Yau Jet Geung Si Um Luen Nei Lit : A Zombie Has a Crush On You Roger Kwok Chun On, Natalie Meng Yao, Jo Kuk Cho Lam, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Maggie Lee Man Kwan, Tanya Wu (Ng Ka Yun), Anke Bei, Angel Ho Cheuk Ying Can : Um Sat Lit : Assassination d. Soi Cheang Po Shui Louis Koo Tin Lok, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) Can : Jing Yun Lit : Witness Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Zhang Jingchu, Sherman Chung Shu Man ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 Can : Ga Yau Hei Si 2009 Lit : Family Has Joyous Event 2009 d. Vincent Kuk Tak Siu Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei Can : Tung Moon Lit : Classmate d. Herman Yau Lai To Shawn Yue Man Lok, Ada Choi Siu Fun, Ella Koon Yun Na, Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Chapman To Man Jat, Jun Kung Shek Leung Can : Chun Oi Dik Lit : Dear Andy On Chi Kit, Miki Yeung Oi Kun, Kwan Chor Yiu, Alice Tsang Hoi Won, Chubby (Siu Fei), Vivian Yeo (Yeung Sau Wai), HotCha STORM RIDERS II Can : Fung Won II Lit : Wind Cloud II d. Pang Brothers Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Can : Nui Yun But Wai Lit : Women Not Bad d. Tsui Hark Zhou Xun, Kuei Lun-Mei, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Alex Fong Chung Shun Can : Si Lim Lit : Reminisce d. Wai Ka Fai Lau Ching Wan, Kelly Lin (Lam Hei LUi), Yan Qing, Jo Kuk Cho Lam Can : Giu, Won Lit : Call, Soul Grace Ip Pui Man, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Jolie Chan Yuen Kei, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Chucky Wood Gei Lan, Kwok Hoi San Can : Ang Hong Lit : Tough Guy Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Ellen Chan Nga Lun, Liu Ye, Sun Honglei FANTASTIC WATER BABES Can : Chook Shui Fu Yung Lit : Out of Water Hibiscus d. Jeff Lau Chun Wai Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Stephen Fung Tak Lun, Tian Liang, Eva Huang Shengyi, Opening October 23 2008 in Malaysia Official Site : www.emp.hk [ OFFICIAL SITE ] A beautiful and cocky swimmer Jill and her teammates kidnaps Alex, Hong Kong's champion swimmer, in order that he can train her to win a duel against her rival in swimming and in love. All hell breaks loose when hate at first sight inadvertently becomes something else... Can : Kit Ji Lit : Scorpion d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Sam Lee Chan Sam, Emme Wong Yee Man, Leung Siu Lung, Miki Mizuno (Shui Yeh Mei Gei), Nana Natsume (Ha Muk Noi Noi) Can : Hok Hau Hak Sai Lik Lit : School Mob Power Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Lee Si Pui, Annie Man Chung Han, Lui Hoi Yun Ada Wong Chi Hom, Timmy Hung Tin Ming Can : Goo Mo Mui Ying Lit : Ancient Tomb Phantom d. Chan Kwoon Wai Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Candy Lo Hau Yam Can : SI GUONG DOI LAU DIK WA Lit : IF TIME FLOWS BACKWARD d. Mak Kai Kwong Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, Yan Ng Yat Yin, Ken Wong Hap Hei, Karen Tong Bo Yu NEW PERFECT EDUCATION Can : Sun Gum Sut Pui Yuk ji Oi Dik Fu Lo Lit : New Chamber Cultivated Desire: Captive of Love d. Ng Man Lik Kaori Sakagami (Ban Seung Heung Jik) Tony Ho Wa Chiu, Vonnie Lui Hoi Yu Can : Jin Fu Lit : War Tiger Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Kristy Yang Kung Yu, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Lam Ka Tung, Candy Yu On On, Guo Xinqi (Kwok Sam Kei), Jason Chu Wing Tong, Koey Leung Shuet Mei, Iris Wong Yat Tung, Pavarit Mongkolpisit Nahatai Lekbumrung, Yunee Can : Mo Yau 24 Siu Si Lit : Worry Free 24 Hours Chiu Chung Yu, Natalie Ng Man Yan, Simon Loui Yu Yeung, Siu Chuen Yung, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Libby Lao Kuai Ieng Can : Nui Kuen Wong Lit : Female Fist King Diana Pang Tan, Angie Cheong Wei Yee, Lai Yiu Cheung, Emi Tojo (Dung Sing Gong Mei) Mizuho Ishikawa (Shek Chuen Mei Jung Shui) --- [ NOW SHOWING ] Info from Mov3.com (http://www.mov3.com), Ryan's Hong Kong Movie DataBase (http://www.hkmdb.com), Korean Movie Database (http://www.krmdb.com), Cinema Thai (http://www.cinemathai.com), Hong Kong Entertainment News In Review (http://www.hkentreview.com), Internet Movie DataBase (http://www.imdb.com) THE WAY WE ARE Can : Tin Shui Wai Dik Yut Yu Yeh Lit : Tin Shui Wai's Day and Night d. Ann Hui On Wa Paw Hee Ching, Chan Lai Wun, Leung Chun Lung, Idy Chan Yuk Lin, Clifton Ko Chi Sum Length : 90 mins. Opening July 17 2008 Opening March 27 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=638 [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] A widowed mother and her teenage son live in a Tin Shui Wai estate. She works in a supermarket and helps a colleague breaks into her new job. The boy, average in each and every way, grows into adolescence hesitantly. In passing, we find out that the mother has made big sacrifices to her family. The way we are, the way we live; an ode to the salt of the earth. [ COMING SOON ] BREATH d. Kim Ki-Duk Chang Chen, Zia, Ha Jung-Woo [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] On a cold winter day, after learning her husband has found a new woman, Yeon absent mindedly heads for the prison where Chen is confined. Although she does not know him personally, repeated news of his suicide attempts on TV has subconsciously grown in her mind and now is leading her to seek him. Jin has no visitors and normally would not agree to meet with a complete stranger, but hearing that it is a woman he accepts her meeting request out of curiosity. Their first meeting is as awkward as it can get. Yeon treats Jin like an old friend whereas Jin does not open up so easily. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE TAIWAN CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Lin Shu Yu Rhydian Vaughan, Chang Chieh, Wang Bo Chieh Length : 113 mins. Opening March 21 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=684 [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] The winds of September are the wind of Hsinchu, a strong wind that visits the county and city between September and November. The film takes us back to 1996, during the time of the tragic Taiwan baseball scandal, an event that devastated many teenage boys. The story follows Yen and Tang and their gang through the last year of their high school life. From chasing girls to midnight skinny dipping to rooting for their favorite baseball team, they do everything together. When an accident throws Yen into a coma, their world starts falling apart. A cruel reality has announced itself, can the boys grow up quickly enough to face it? WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE MAINLAND CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Han Yan Tai Junjie, Wu Xiaoliang, Liu Shuhan, Chi Jia Rating : 105 mins. Opening March 21 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=682 [ THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] Some time before the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China, a Mainland high school stages a variety show to celebrate the occasion. One of the most brilliant openings among the many recent Chinese high school titles, it introduces the unfolding drama of rival groups of "good" and "bad" students and their "internal contradictions", and serves as a continual mental backdrop for the audience: of youth caught in a society whose founding ideology has become obsolete and absurd. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE HONG KONG CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Heiward Mak Lam Yiu Sing, Sham Ka Kei, Anjo Leung Hiu Fung, Venus Wong Man Yik Length : 100 mins. Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=683 SNIPER Can : Sun Cheung Sau Lit : Godly Gunslingers d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Edison Chen Koon Hei, Huang Xiaoming Opening November 6 2008 in Malaysia [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Ming is renowned as the top shooter in the police force. However things get complicated after the release of his former teammate and superb marksman Ching from prison. With only vengeance on his mind, Ching wants to take on Ming and the police, believing that they are the ones who put him in jail. When a mysterious sniper sabotages a high-security prisoner transfer and a convict escapes, Ming and his team are dispatched to profile the suspect. THE PRETTY WOMEN Can : Nui Yun Ngor Jui Dai Lit : WOMEN I AM THE BIGGEST d. Hou Hin Ngok Cecilia Yip Tung, Ray Lui Leung Wai, Cheung Ka Wai, Chow Lui, Ng Ting Yun Opening July 31 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Three Hong Kong women in Shanghai learn how to pursue the love that they want and finally understand relationship. Mary Yip is smart, strong and ambitious, but she has always harbored a crush on the company chief. However she denies her feeling. On the surface she is unreasonable. CHow Yin Yin is pretty and naive, the dream girl of every man; Jin Fei likes to sing and dreams of stardom. She overlooks a hunk's crush. They have experienced the joy of being loved; they are on top of their careers, but in love they due to a variety of reason miss out on true love...... DORAEMON - NEW NOBITA'S GREAT ADVENTURE INTO THE UNDERWORLD Japanese Animation Opening August 7 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] This is a great adventure in the magical world with seven brave world rescuers! What strange idea does Nobita come up with now? If he can use magic, everything would become very convenient. One day, Nobita and Doraemon use the "If phone booth" to turn the real world into a magical world. This world is the same as the original world but everyone except Nobita use magic......in this world, magic is the main source of power in human survival and development. LA LINGERIE Can : Noi Yi Siu Nui Lit : Underwear Girl d. Chan Hing Ka Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Lo Mik Shuet, Wong Cho Nam Opening August 8 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] This story is about four young women. Their lives and their loves tied together by a common thread --- lingerie. Miu, Donut, Celine and CC come from four different walks of life. Yet they always seem to hang out at the same place, a sexy lingerie shop where Donut works. Miu works for the Research and Development division of a Lingerie company. She's been an over achiever all her life academically and career-wise, yet possessing a failing grade in romance. She recently moves into the house of her deceased, unmarried old maid of an aunt. In her room she sees glimpses of what could become her future, that of a successful career woman who dies a virgin. Just like her aunt's drawer full of fabulous lingerie and underwear, never to grace the sights of a man to share her life with. This epiphany of hers brings about a resolve to finally find someone to fall in love with for the first time. And with it comes droves of suitors of all shapes and sizes, from a rich playboy, a nerdy genius, a bank manager to a self proclaimed "love expert" Lucas who seems to have ulterior motives behind his pursuit of Miu. She needs to rely on her three close and romantically experienced friends to find her way out of this labyrinth. Yet these three "consultants of love" seem to have hit rough patches of their own. OCEAN FLAME Can : Yut Boon Hoi Shui, Yut Boon For Yim Lit : Half Sea Water, Half Flame d. Liu Fendou Liao Fan, Monica Wang (Mok Siu Kei), Hai Yitian, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lam Suet Opening August 8 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Wang Yao once was a heartless john and con artist, then one day he ran into waitress Li Chuan. Wang Yao originally thought Li Chuan was like all the other girls and be on his beckon call, but Li Chuan's stubbornness far surpassed his imagination. Amid the mutual torture, they gradually lost themselves. He lost his freedom and she lost her life. After an eight year sentence, Wang Yao walked out of the prison gates. He entered the home of Li Chuan's mother with a gun and wanted to fulfill his wish...... THE ONE MAN OLYMPICS d. Hou Yong Li Zhaolin, Hu Jun, Rating : I Length : 109 mins. Opening August 14 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] 76 years ago a short distance runner named Liu Changchun declined to represent the Japanese backed Manchuria to participate in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. After a tearful farewell with his wife and child he escaped Beijing, found the Dongbei University dean General Zhang to sponsor his boat ride as he headed alone to attend the games. THE LUCKIEST MAN Can : Dai Sei Hei Lit : Great Four Joys d. Lam Tsz Chung Nat Chan Pak Cheung, Yuen Qiu, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Lam Tsz Chung, Monica Chan Fat Yung, chan Kwok Kwun, Timmy Hung Tin Ming, Pinky Cheung Man Chi Opening August 14 2008 in Malaysia [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Ho Bit Fat founded a mahjong parlor in the 50s. With his superb mahjong skills and wise management he now has all 60 mahjong parlors in Hong Kong and has the Hong Kong mahjong industry by its ear. The industry calls him "gambling king" out of respect. He has three wives, Sophie, Sister Ling and Manna, two sons and a daughter. Sophie's son Kei has no accomplishment and uses gambling king's reputation to start trouble all over. Sister Ling's son has never grown up. Having liked music since childhood he considers himself a singer. Ling's daughter Sisi is pretty and ambitious. She makes her own living and never relies on her father. In others' eyes Ho Bit Fat's wives get along well and serve gambling king together. Many are envious but no one knows that the wives and the sons have been fighting continuously over the gambling king's inheritance. They not only get the gambling king's butler to watch his every move, but also turn food into their weapon as they constantly play pranks on each other. The wives constantly duel in the living room, where nothing is left unturned. As they battle to life and death, the gambling king brings home his illegitimate son Fai and makes the situation even more complicated. Fai is filial and respectful to everyone, thus has the gambling king's favor. The wives and the sons for their own benefit team up and often play pranks on Fai. On the other hand the gambling king wants to retire and in order to keep his business legacy going suggests for his three sons to each take care of a mahjong parlor, with the best performer becoming the successor. Kei and Kin in order to prevent Fai's victory not only hire monks and beggars to create disturbance outside the store but also three great swindlers to cheat at Fai's store. Because Fai has no knowledge of gambling finally he has nothing left. The gambling king orders his butler to take Fai and visit three mahjong experts of the 50s. Because the trio is already aging, they can only teach mahjong techniques via lecture. Fai's extraordinary smart enables his mahjong abilities to improve suddenly with the three experts' guidance. Finally a mahjong war is about to erupt... CRAYON SHINCHAN MOVIE Rating : IIA Length : 88 mins. Opening August 14 2008 CYBORG SHE Can : Ngor Dik Gei Hai Yun Nui Yau Lit : My Robot Girlfriend d. Kwak Jae-Yong Haruka Ayase, Keisuke Koide Opening August 21 2008 Official Site : cyborg.gyao.jp [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A straight laced young man runs into a robot from the future and becomes deeply attracted to this pretty, cute and unique robot girl. They gradually fall for each other but an earthquake disaster strikes. He is trapped and his robot girlfriend risks her life to rescue her most beloved...... HANADA Can : Fa Yeung Nam Ji Final Lit : Flower Like Men Final d. (Shek Jang Hong Ching) (Jang Seung Jung Yeung), (Chung Boon Yun), (Siu Suk Din), (Chung Tin Cheung Tai), (Ah Bo Lik) Opening August 28 2008 CONNECTED Can : Bo Chi Tung Wa Lit : Keep In Touch d. Benny Chan Muk Sing Louis Koo Tin Lok, Barbie Shui (Tsui Hei Woon), Liu Ye, Nick Cheung Ka Fai Opening September 11 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Based on the Hollywood film CELLULAR, single mother Grace as usual takes her daughter Yu Ting to school but on the way robber Yi Fok crashes into her. Half conscious and powerless, she witnesses Yi Fook ransacking her home and brutally kills her maid! Later he takes Grace into a cargo. Yi Fok forces Grace to hand over his criminal evidence or he would kill her entire family. Frightened, Grace takes out a heavily damaged mobile phone, builds it while no one is watching and miraculously makes a call for help. The call accidentally goes to a financial company loan department employee Bong. Bong's son will be studying abroad and is waiting for him at the airport with his sister Jeanie. He remains suspicious on Grace's call for help and hands the phone to traffic cop Fai. Unfortunately due to network problems Fai cannot clearly hear what Grace says and warns Bong about playing prank on the police. At this time Yi Fok suddenly rushes into the cargo and luckily Grace can hide the phone in time. When Bong picks up the phone and clearly hears a gunshot he realizes the severity of the call and decides to rescue Grace! The task at hand though is to prevent the robber from hurting his next target -- Grace's daughter. Bong must keep her daughter from falling into the robber's hand. With danger ahead of him, at anytime he may have to give up his valuable life to save someone... BUTTERFLY LOVERS AKA : Dip Gim Lit : Butterfly Sword Can : Mo Hup Leung Jook Lit : Martial Art Heroes Leung Jook d. Jingle Ma Chor Sing Wu Chun, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Hu Ge, Harlem Yu Ching Hing, Ti Lung Opening September 11 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] From the richest wine making family, Jook Yin Ji is energetic and happy. She likes to disguise herself as a man and wanders the town with her servant Ngan Sum. By chance she runs into Leung Chung San, a young hero who helps the constable in the capture of a major robber and has a good impression of him. Jook Yin Ji's father has a past business rivalry with Chin Wing Wai. Today as a high ranking official Chin claims that the Jook family is selling counterfeit wine in an attempt to take over the Jook family business and even wants the pretty Yin Ji as a concubine. Luckily the new rising star of the court Ma Sing Yun who has fallen for Yin Ji wisely backs him off. Sing Yun seeks help in the palace and leaves the help of his assistant Cho Fong. Father Jook asks old friend a herbal medicine maker to take care of Yin Ji in disguise and to teach her martial arts. 10 PROMISES WITH MY DOG Can : Ngor Wor Chum Wui Huen Dik 10 Gor Yeuk Ding Lit : My 10 Promises With My Retriever Mayuko Fukada, Etsushi Toyokawa, Reiko Takashima Opening September 11 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Akari Saito is a 14-year-old girl living in the city of Hakodate in Japan’s northern prefectural island of Hokkaido. Secure in gentle and compassionate love of her father Yuichi, and mother Fumiko, Akari is leading a carefree childhood free of want. The only seed of dissatisfaction comes from having to watch her father, a promising surgeon at a university hospital, grow busier and busier at the cost of time spent with her. And then one fateful day, Akari’s ever cheerful and energetic mother falls ill and is hospitalized. Just as worry and loneliness begin to take their toll on her, a stray puppy wanders into her yard. Taking the puppy with her on a visit to her mother in the hospital, she receives approval to keep it. It is a female Golden Retriever with white markings on its paws. They name him “Socks.” Before Akari leaves, her mother sits her down and carefully explains – by pretending to use the voice of Socks - the “10 Promises” Akari must keep to her new dog as her master. LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK Can : Cha Ji Nui Lit : Woman of Investigation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) Opening September 11 2008 in Malaysia [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] When an oil tanker explodes, John Fok becomes the focus of investigation by the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese police and is forced to put on hold his business to settle things out. Just as John is planning on a comeback, his son is kidnapped. Doomed in love, Senior Inspector Molline Szeto is fed up with her 10-year relationship with her boyfriend. With no prospect of an imminent wedding, she ends the relationship. Excited with her new crossroads in life, she is thrilled to be assigned to investigate the case of John's kidnapped son. THE SHINJUKU INCIDENT Can : Sun Juk Goo Si Lit : Shinjuku Story d. Derek Yee Tung Sing Jackie Chan, Ken Watanabe, Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) Opening September 25 2008 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] In the early 1990s, a tractor mechanic from China nicknamed Steelhead illegally enters Japan to search for his girlfriend. To make ends meet, he joins his friend in Shinjuku in doing menial labor. Steelhead finds out that his girlfriend has married Eguchi, a Japanese Yakuza leader. Steelhead decides to stay in Japan and work for Eguchi as a hitman. Soon, Steelhead gets used to the power and find himself embroiled so deeply in the ways of the underworld that there is no turning back. PAINTED SKIN Can : Wat Pei d. Gordon Chan Ka Seung Donnie Yen Chi tan, Vicki Zhao Wei, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Qi Yuwu, Betty Sun Li Opening September 25 2008 in Malaysia [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Chong Wu, an amorously inclined young man, came across an attractive young woman needing his help and he immediately rushed to her aid. The meeting brewed wild imaginations to have her in his arms for himself. Though he is married, he continues having strong desires and urges to bed any pretty woman that he meets. To his shock, the woman that he sexually desires is actually a ghost. 20TH CENTURY BOYS d. Yukihiko Tsutsumi Toshiaki Karasaw, Etsushi Toyokawa, Takako Tokiwa, Hitomi Kuroki Opening October 2 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story takes place between 1960 and 2010, around lead Kenji and a group of classmates. During childhood they fantasize about opposing an evil organization and write a prediction to save the world. 30 years later, a self proclaimed "friend" mystery person forms a friendly gang to save the world as predicted. If someone betrays "friend" then the friendship ends and is immediately killed. The symbol that "friend" uses is the same as Kenji and his friends. What is the true identity of "friend"? Is "friend"'s prediction book exactly the same as Kenji's? RED CLIFF PART II AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF Can : Chet Bik Lit : Red Cliff d. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Janny Lin Chiling, Vicki Zhao Wei, Chang Chen, Zhang Fengyi, Hu Jun, You Yong Opening December 18 2008 --- [ Entertainment URL ] EMPEROR MOTION PICTURES http://www.emp.hk GOLDEN SCENE http://www.goldenscene.com SING PAO http://www.singpao.com THE HONG KONG FILM ARCHIVE http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/hkfa/ CHANG CHUN CHINA FILM FESTIVAL http://www.cc-film.com GOLDEN HARVEST http://www.goldenharvest.com STAR EAST http://www.stareastnet.com CITY ENTERTAINMENT http://www.cityentertainment.com.hk Commercial Radio http://www.crhk.com.hk Television Broadcast Limited http://www.tvb.com.hk --- [ NORTH AMERICA AREA CONCERTS ] Courtesy of our neighbors at : High Level Entertainment's Concert & Event News Center http://www.levelhigh.com http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/1721/hlecaen.htm * STARLIGHT JOEY YUNG CHO YI ATLANTIC CITY CONCERT 2008 VENUE LOCATION : Mark G. Etess Arena Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort Atlantic City NJ DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday Monring, September 28 2008 @ 1AM Sunday, September 28 2008 @ 2PM TICKET PRICES: $128, 88, 58 EXCLUSIVE TICKET OUTLET LOCATION: Raymond Miu Productions www.rmpny.com 195 Canal Road Room 201 212.966-0800 * SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPTS, INC and RESORTS ATLANTIC CITY PRESENT HINS CHEUNG KING HIN LIVE Special Guest : Theresa Fu WIng VENUE LOCATION: Superstar Theatre Resorts Atlantic City Atlantic City NJ DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, August 17 2008 @ 1AM TICKET PRICES : $108, 78, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: CHINATOWN P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street New York NY 10013 212.732.3828 FLUSHING Dannys Musical Store 41-46 Main Street, Flushing NY 11355 718.358.5678 BROOKLYN Apple Travel Service Inc. 774 60th Street, 2/F Brooklyn NY 11220 718.680.6666 * ANDY HUI CHI ON AND WILLIAM SO WING HONG LIVE IN CONCERT Special Guest : Eddie Ng Kwok King VENUE LOCATION : Horseshoe Casino 777 Casino Center Drive Hammond IN 46320 www.horseshoe.com 866-711-SHOE DATE AND TIME : Friday night / Saturday morning, August 8 2008 @ 12AM TICKET PRICES: $148, 108, 88 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: Ticket Master 866.448.7849 ONLINE www.thevenue-chicago.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : MOV3.COM, Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Tuesday July 29 2008 10 WANTED d. Timur Bekmambetov James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie 9 BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD d. Sidney Lumet Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney 8 KERORO THE MOVIE 3 d. Mine Yoshizaki Japanese Animation Cantonese Voices: HotCha 7 HANCOCK d. Peter Berg Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman 6 SPACE CHIMPS d. Kirk De Micco Vanguard Animation English VoiceS: Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels 5 KUNG FU PANDA d. Mark Osborne, John Stevenson Dreamwork Animation English voices: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan Cantonese voices: Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Denise Ho Wan Si, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Jackie Chan 4 X-FILES I WANT TO BELIEVE d. Chris Carter David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet 3 RED CLIFF Can : Chet Bik Lit : Red Cliff d. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Janny Lin Chiling, Vicki Zhao Wei, Chang Chen, Zhang Fengyi, Hu Jun, You Yong 2 WALL*E d. Andrew Stanton Disney Pixar Animation Fred Willard English Voice: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, MacInTalk John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver 1 THE DARK KNIGHT d. Christopher Nolan Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS RED CLIFF PART I AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF Rating : IIB Length : 140 mins. Opening July 10 2008 Official Site: http://th.foxmovies.com.tw/redcliff [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] In the early third century, the warlord Cao Cao and his soldiers invaded the land of Wu. The ruler of Wu, Sun Quan called on the rival warlord Liu Bei for help, but their two armies were still badly outnumbered. However, strategists Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang see that Cao Cao's army was not used to battling at sea. With 200,000 men, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang defeated Cao Cao's army at the Yangtze River. KUNG FU HIP HOP Rating IIA Length : 94 mins Opening July 10 2008 [ NOW.COM.HK ] Northern youth Chor Tung has studied martial art since childhood. Ambitious, he has fallen in love with street dancing since then as well. Yet for dancing he did not properly care for his sister and led to her sight loss. At the time, their grandfather also had a heart attack and passed away. Chor Tung brought his sister to Beijing for treatment. To survive and to raise money for her sister's treatment, Chor Tung sold counterfeit goods. In a counterfeit sweep Chor Tung met a mysterious woman -- a dance club's gold label DJ Tina. Chor Tung during his escape took Tina's handbag, thus leaving a very poor first impression with each other. KERORO THE MOVIE 3 Rating : I Length : 90 mins. Opening July 10 2008 THE SPARROW Rating : IIA Length : 87 mins. Opening June 19 2008 Opening February 11 2008 at the Berlin Film Festival Site : http://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/berlinale_programm/datenblatt.php?film_id=20084390 [ BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL ] "Sparrow" is a common word used in Hong Kong street slang for pickpocket. The term refers to the special dexterity needed to pluck people's wallets from their pockets...and possibly also to the necessity of having to flutter away quickly should one de discovered. Kei is one such "sparrow" -- a nd a very professional one at that. He and his three partners earn a good living from digging deep into the pockets of oblivious passers-by moving along the crowded urban canyons of Hong Kong. As far as Kei's concerned, it's all he needs to live a carefree life. Whenever hei s not going about his business he loves to ride about the city on his bicycle photographing street scenes with his Rolleiflex camera. One day the gorgeous Chun Lei comes into his sights. Kei is fascinated but behind Chun Lei's good looks lurks a mysterious past. Kei falls in love with her -- and he is not the only one. After having managed to turn the heads of his three colleagues, she reveals her true intentions. The sparrows are to steal a key that is of great importance to her. At first the task seems simple, but then another interested party appears on the scene in shape of the shy tycoon Mr. Yen...... [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS ONLINE ] They are known as the "sparrows", Hong Kong's street slang for "pickpockets". They work in groups, lifting wallets from unsuspecting tourists until one day an irresistible woman of unknown origin appears before them and requests the gang to steal a key for her. The set up begins to unravel itself when the mission completes. The pickpockets realize this exotic beauty has been slowly leading them onto a path of no return. ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, July 26 2008 15 CHINESE POWER I BELIEVE Can : Jung Wa Lik Leung I Believe Yu Quan, Li Yongbo (Lee Wing Bong) 14 LIGHT A TORCH Can : Dim Yut Ba For Gui JJ Lin Junjie 13 RAISE HAND HIGH Can : Gui Go Jet Sau Fama 12 EYE COLOR Can : Ngan Sik James Lin (Lam Yau Ga) 11 WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR SAFETY Can : Fun Bun Gu Sun Jam Hsiao (Siu King Tung) 10 SOMETIMES LONELY Can : Yau Si Jik Mok Kelly Chen Wai Lam 9 TEARS CRY Can : Ngan Lui Huk Liu Liu Liyang (Lau Lik Yeung) 8 TOGETHER WITH YOU Can : Yu Nei Tung Joi Chen Chusheng 7 ON EVERY LINE Jason Chan Pak Yu, Daniel Lee Gut Hong, Danny Wan Lik Ming 6 ON THE TREADMILL Can : Pau Bo Gei Seung Joey Yung Cho Yi 5 I AM STILL YOURS Can : Ngor Wan Si Nei Dik Leo Ku Kui Ke 4 ORCHID Can : Yuen Mei Fa Man Wenjun (Moon Man Gwun) 3 LEGEND Can : Chuen Shuet Jacky Xie (Sit Ji Him) 2 UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOM Can : Ying Fa Shu Ha Hins Cheung King Hin 1 UNWILLING TO SPEAK Can : But Yuen Shuet Wa Eason Chan Yik Shun ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038